Ball-placing device for tube mills



Ray 8,1923. f

J.H.MATHESON BALL PLACING DEVICE FOR TUBE MILLS l Filed April 4, 1Q22 4 Sheets-Sheet l May 8, 1923.

J.H{MATHESON BALL PLACING DEVICE FOR TUBE MILLS Filed April 4, 1922 May 8, 1923. 1,454,684

J. H. MATHESON BALL PLACING DEVICE FOR TUBE MILLS l Filed April 4, 1922 4 sheets-sheet f5 May 8, 1923.

1,454,684 J. H. MATHEsoN BALL PLACING DEVICE FR- TUBE MILLS l Filed April 4,A l922 4 Sheets-$heet 4 Patented May 8, 151.923.

JAMES H. MATEESON, OF READING, PENNSYLVANIA.

BALL-PLACING DEVICE, FOB kTIBE,llllfilllt.

Application filedA April a,

To all fw from it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES I-I. MiyrHnsoN,

`a citizen of the United States, residing in Reading, Berlrs County, Pe1insylvania,have invented certain Improvements in Ball- Placing Devices lfor Tube Mills, of which the following is va specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in tube forming mills, in which a slrelp is heated and is passed between a pair of rolls and over a ball so that the lapped edges of thevslrelp are welded to form a tu e. Y

The object of the invention is to provide mechanism for locating the balls in the .proper position in respect to they rolls so that, when the ball rod moves vforward, it .will engage a ball and will carry it into proper position between the rolls-in lorder that a tube can be formed thereon.

This object I attain in thefollowing manner, reference being had to the-'accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view of my improved mechanism for positioning balls in front ofthe rolls of a tube mill;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view, Asimilar to Fig. 1, showing the mechanism elevated and one ot theballs in the act of passing into position in line with the rolls; A l

Fig. .4e is an end view of the mechanism when in the position shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view illustrating the location of the mechanism in respect to the rolls;

Fig. 6 is a side view of a tube mill, show-V ing the location of my improved mechanism and the means for'operating it from a dis' tant point;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view ot one ot' the balls and the end ofthe carrying rod;

Fig. 8 is a view of a modication of the invention; v

Fig. 9 is a view of the removable pocket member; Y

Fig. 10 is an enlarged view of a portion of Fig. 6, showing the valve and the mechanism for operating the carrier; and

Fig. 11 is an end view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 10. y

Referring to the drawings,1 is abase. 2, 2 are standards supported by thebase.V Gn the upper ends ot these standards are vbearings f3. -4- is a carrier `located between the bearings 21 and 22.

1922. Serial No.Vv 511.9,4-83.

This carrier is capable of being moved from the position illustrated in Fig. 1to the position shown in F ig. 3. In the lcarrier is a channel 6 for the balls a, shaped as shown in ig. 7. Each ball is reduced at one end and has a hole Z) into' which extends the end o of a ball-carrying rod d. The ball rests against a shoulder on this rod so as resist the movement orq the skelp as it is being formed into va tube between the rolls. At the outer-end of the channel 6 of the carrier is a slidewav 7 in which isa Yreciprocating slide 8. When in its lowest position, as shown in Fig. 1, the vupper end of the slide is on a line withthe `channel so that the balls will roll ontoA the slide. When the `carrier is raised, the slide is'elevated, carrying with it the ball-and when the slide is in the position shown in Fig.k 3, the ball rolls into a pocket 9 atthe end of thev carrier. This pocket, when the carrier is raised, is on `a line with the rod ci and with the opening between the rolls 10 and 11 of the tube forming mill. Thegpocket is 'of an yeven diameterthroughout so that, p

nected to the carrier byr a pivot pin 17 soi that, when iiuid is admitted yto thev under side or" the piston, the carrier will be moved from the nositionshown in Fig. l1 to that shown in Fig. 3. v

l In order to raise the'slide 8, it is connected.

to a lever 18 byy apin 19. The lever is pivoted to the carrier by afpin 20. The opposite arm of the klever extends between ktwo l These bearings are so arranged on the standards 2 that, when the carrier isV raised, the lever is turned.l on its pivot and the slide 8 is projected to the position shown in Fig. 3. When pressure is exerted on the upper side 'of the pistomthe carrier dropsto the position shown in Fig. 1

and out of line with vthe rodcl.v When the carrier moves to lthe position shown inFig. 1`-` another one of the balls rolls into position above the slide 8 ready to be projected lon the next movement of the carrier.

carrier and having one arm connected to thev slide7 the other arm of the lever extending between two bearings on the standard so arranged that when the carrier is raised, the lever will be moved on its pivot and will elevate the slide.

7. The combination of a base; standards on the base; a carrier located between the standards and pivotally mounted thereon; a cylinder pivoted to the base; a piston rod extending into the cylinder and connected to the carrier, said carrier having a channel in which a series of balls can be located; a pocket at the outer end of the carrier; a Slide mounted in the carrier and arranged to select one of the balls from the channel and allow it to roll into position in the pocket; a lever pivoted to the carrier and connected to the slide; bearings engaging the lever for operating the slide; and va trough mounted on the carrier in line with the channel.

8. The combination of a standard; a carrier arranged to be moved into and out of position in alignment with the rolls of a.

tube mill; a pocket at the endof the carrier fora ball; a ehannelin theearrier for the reception of a series of balls; the sides of said channel being adjustable to lit ballsv of dierent sizes; a removable cover plate for the channel; and means for transferring a ball from the channel to the pocket.

9. The combination in a tubemill, of a pair of rolls; a rod;-means for projecting the rod; a ball-presenting carrier; a cylinder; a piston therein; a stop lever for the end of the rod; an air valve connected to said lever; and pipes extending from the air valve to the ends of the cylinder so that, when the stop lever is operated, the piston is raised, or lowered, in the cylinder to move the carrier.

JAMES EL MATHESON. 

